Fit for All providers must not charge participants for the time they spend on sessions funded by HAF. Providers are, however, allowed to charge participants who are:
- not funded by HAF – ie they are not eligible for Free School Meals and do not have SEND
- not funded by HAF for the hours in question – eg if they are attending sessions at a club at which they are HAF-funded in hours longer than those that are funded by HAF. This is sometimes called ‘Free and Fee’ because participants get some hours free (funded by HAF) but ay for further hours themselves (for a fee).
The Principle of Equity
There is a clear principle however that applies across the board to all participants in HAF funded sessions regardless of whether and how many of their hours are funded through fees and this is that: all participants should be treated equally and indistinguishably (albeit in a customised way based on their needs and interests etc). This includes, for example:
- during activities and in the choices of activity available
- at mealtimes and in the choices of food, drink and snacks made available
- during registration and in other admin procedures.
Donations
Families can make donations toward the cost of providers and these donations can be made available during sessions, eg at drop-off or pick-up. Donations must be voluntary and in no way presented as being a condition of attendance and participation in a session.
Sources of Funding for Fee Hours
Some families may wish to fund further hours for participants from their own resources. Sometimes these may arise from:
- Free Childcare
- Universal Credit or Tax Credit childcare element
- Direct Payments from a Personal Budget.
Here is chart that shows how charging from different sources might work:
Please contact Paul with queries on sources of funding for fee hours from Childcare elements